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Updated: Jun 27, 2026
Depletion and Reconstitution of Macrophages in Mice
Published on: August 1, 2012
Cultured macrophages cause dissolucytosis of metallic silver
Linda Jansons Locht1, Agnete Larsen, Meredin Stoltenberg
1Department of Neurobiology, Institute of Anatomy, University of Aarhus, Aarhus C, Denmark. LLOC@ana.au.dk
Abstract:
The present study proves that cultured macrophages can liberate silver ions from metallic silver surfaces by a process called dissolucytosis. Macrophages (J774) were grown on a silver plate for different periods of time and after fixation in glutaraldehyde, they were subjected to autometallograhy in order to amplify possible cellular silver-sulphur nanocrystals. Light and electron microscopic analysis of the cells revealed that silver ions released from the plate had been taken up by the macrophages and accumulated in lysosome-like structures. We found that the liberation of silver ions takes place extracellularly and is caused by chemical activity in a dissolution membrane, most likely secreted and organized by the macrophages. The liberation and the subsequent uptake of silver ions in the macrophages is a relatively fast process and the resulting silver-sulphur nanocrystals can be observed in macrophages that have been in contact with metallic silver for only a few minutes. Our findings indicate that the speed of dissolucytosis is highly influenced by the chemical nature of the object exposed to the dissolucytotic process which is likely to occur whenever macrophages encounter a non-phagocytosable foreign object.
Insights
Macrophages can dissolve metallic silver surfaces, releasing silver ions through a process called dissolucytosis. This rapid ion uptake by macrophages forms silver-sulphur nanocrystals, influenced by the material
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Biomaterials Science
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Macrophages are key immune cells involved in foreign object interaction.
- Metallic silver is used in various biomedical applications.
- Understanding cellular interactions with metallic materials is crucial for safety and efficacy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the mechanism by which macrophages interact with metallic silver surfaces.
- To identify and characterize the process of silver ion liberation and uptake by macrophages.
- To explore the formation of silver-sulphur nanocrystals within macrophages.
Main Methods:
- Culturing J774 macrophage cell lines on metallic silver plates.
- Fixation of cells using glutaraldehyde.
- Application of autometallography for silver-sulphur nanocrystal amplification.
- Analysis using light and electron microscopy.
Main Results:
- Macrophages liberate silver ions from metallic silver surfaces via dissolucytosis.
- Silver ions are rapidly taken up and accumulate in lysosome-like structures within macrophages.
- Extracellular chemical activity, likely from a macrophage-secreted membrane, drives ion liberation.
- Silver-sulphur nanocrystals form within minutes of macrophage-silver contact.
Conclusions:
- Dissolucytosis is a novel mechanism for macrophages to interact with non-phagocytosable metallic materials.
- The process is rapid and dependent on the chemical properties of the exposed object.
- Findings have implications for understanding the biological fate of metallic silver implants and nanoparticles.
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